Art.sy

October 8, 2012 3:14 PM

Art.sy recommends art based on the art work and artists you like.
posted by Foci for Analysis (17 comments total)

Also known as Six Degrees of Frog Burger.
posted by perhapses at 3:27 PM on October 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

If you're curious about the revenue model (I was), here's the deal:

Art.sy will make a 15% commission on the first $10,000 of a sale, then 10% thereafter.

So I think it's safe to say they're not trying to curate an incredible collection; they're trying to encourage the giant mass of "artists" to put their stuff there so they can make a commission. Like the Reverb Nation or CD Baby of the art world.

Which isn't bad -- just worth noting, IMHO.
posted by nosila at 3:31 PM on October 8, 2012 [4 favorites]

That's still a lot less commission than the average gallery takes in my experience.
posted by petrilli at 3:35 PM on October 8, 2012

From looking at the site, I think it could be reproduced with some HTML, Javascript and a database backend, am I missing something?

It is a pretty cool site. I been browsing it with "only works for sale" and cost set to 1m+, cuz thats how I browse, balla style.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:37 PM on October 8, 2012

Right -- but there's a really important difference: galleries are traditionally art curators. You're paying the commission because the gallery owner supposedly has their finger on the pulse, or whatever, which means that you are much more likely to buy something that will gain value over time, or be a "great" work of art that stands the test of time, or both. (Sort of like A&R in the music industry.)
posted by nosila at 3:37 PM on October 8, 2012

It looks like we don't yet have an exact match for leonard baskin.


:/
posted by louche mustachio at 3:40 PM on October 8, 2012

"We do not work with artists directly. However, if you are represented by a gallery, please have them contact us about partnership opportunities"

So this site is essentially another layer on top of the gallery representation.

I'm curious to see how it goes. I see this sort of "if you like this, you'll like this" methods working well for low cost crafty type items, but I have doubts about it working on high end products like art.
posted by sawdustbear at 3:41 PM on October 8, 2012

I stand corrected:

I am an artist. How can I learn more about partnering with Art.sy?
We do not work with artists directly. However, if you are represented by a gallery, please have them contact us about partnership opportunities at [e-mail].

So they're not a Reverb Nation...it will be interesting to see how this works out.
posted by nosila at 3:44 PM on October 8, 2012

Should have previewed. :)
posted by nosila at 3:45 PM on October 8, 2012

I typed in "Greg Land", and it just took me to Hustler.com. Am I using it correctly?
posted by Strange Interlude at 4:19 PM on October 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

Art.sy

HATE the name.

Maybe it's a lost battle but I've always functioned from the perspective that "artsy" and "arty" are no-go words which manage to simultaneously both belittle whatever they're aiming to describe, and reduce any related discussion to a middle school level.



so maybe I should just walk away
posted by philip-random at 4:58 PM on October 8, 2012

and reduce any related discussion to a middle school level.

also, they don't mean anything. Seriously, would someone please try to define "artsy" for me, or maybe just use it in a meaningful sentence?
posted by philip-random at 5:00 PM on October 8, 2012

Artsy, adj. Beret wearing.
posted by klangklangston at 5:28 PM on October 8, 2012

In a sentence: "I dated her because I thought she was artsy, but she wouldn't put out."
posted by klangklangston at 5:30 PM on October 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

So where does one buy art from up-and-comings online? What is the CD Baby of the art world?
posted by mendel at 6:30 PM on October 8, 2012

I love art.sy. It's a wonderful way to browse and view art.

That said, the .sy domain belongs to Syria. Which means art.sy may be violating US sanctions against Syria.

I'm rather curious to see how it ally plays out. Quite a lot of their brand is tied up in that .sy domain.
posted by ztdavis at 7:15 PM on October 8, 2012

Wittgenstein, on listening to Schubert quartets, said, "You cannot say I like this one, give me another. They are not the same."
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:08 PM on October 9, 2012 [1 favorite]